How to Properly Store Lobster Before and After Cooking

Lobster is a real delicacy, and the perfect centerpiece to any celebration meal or romantic dinner for two. But there’s no point spending money on this prized crustacean if you don’t store it safely. Read on to learn how to treat lobster before and after cooking.

Buy From a Reputable Retailer

Choose energetic live lobsters, as their vigor is a sign of good health.

Look for long antennae. Lobsters often nibble on one another’s antennae, so the ones with the longest antennae are likely to be new to the tank.

When buying in person, buy close to the source. Buying from fishmongers and fishermen is best, but if you must go to the grocery store, make sure it’s near a lobster fishing area.

Give online retailers a try. A range of retailers sell frozen, cooked, and live lobster delivered to your door. Look for retailers like Lobster Place that use FedEx Priority Overnight Service or their own trucks to ensure that your lobsters arrive fresh.

Store it Right

Storing lobster correctly ensures it maintains its quality before you cook it. Heed this advice when you bring lobster home.

Live lobsters will keep in your fridge for one to two days. Cooked lobster in the shell will last in the fridge for up to two days in an air-tight container.

Keep live lobsters in back, where the fridge is coldest, in a large bowl, roasting pan, or cardboard box. The optimum storage temperature is between 34 and 36 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cover live lobster with damp cloths or pack it with damp newspaper to keep it moist.

If you don’t have enough space in your fridge, you could keep your live lobster in a picnic cooler or another insulated container. Cover the lobster with an ice pack or a plastic bag filled with ice cubes, and store the container in the coolest part of your home.

If you aren’t planning on eating your frozen lobsters within the next day, you should freeze them as soon as you get them home. Frozen lobsters should be thawed in the fridge for 24 hours before cooking.

Preserve Your Leftover Lobster

If you’re lucky enough to have lobster leftovers, make sure you don’t throw them out. You can make the cooked meat into a sandwich spread, fritters, or a decadent fried rice. Remember the following tips to ensure you get your money’s worth from this luxurious crustacean.